Penn State women’s basketball is almost underway, folks. The Lady Lions tip off their 2026-27 season at home on November 2 against Cleveland State.

The team faces massive turnover, with only one returning player on the roster, as new head coach Tanisha Wright has brought in a wealth of players with tested college and international experience.

Lady Lion fans have a lot of new faces to learn, so some of our staffers chose players they think will be worth watching this season.

Karlee Feger: Devyn Quigley

After two seasons at NC State, I believe Devyn Quigley will break out as a Lady Lion.

She has a beautiful shot, and I believe Wright will exploit that in her offense and develop Quigley as a sharpshooter. Although Quigley is new to Happy Valley, I see her as a leader on this team and a mentor to the program’s freshmen.

I also see her making an impact on defense, using her speed to grab steals, and using her court vision to push the ball downcourt and find her bigs.

Collin Ward: Kamrah Banks

Look, I will not pretend to be an elite-level basketball expert, but I do know confidence and swagger. Kamrah Banks seems to have both.

The 5-foot-9 freshman was one of the first commits in the Wright era, and for good reason. As a senior, Banks averaged 20.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game and was named a 2026 McDonald’s All-American nominee.

You don’t become the No. 1 combo guard in Indiana — which is known as the basketball state — for no reason. I’m thoroughly looking forward to what Banks can bring to the table as a freshman.

Jake Speicher: Petra Bozan

I truly believe the Big Ten is the most competitive women’s basketball conference in the country. So the value in having a player like Petra Bozan with tried-and-true Big Ten experience cannot be overstated.

In her sophomore season with Nebraska, Bozan shot over 50% from the field and was a solid rotational piece for the Cornhuskers. The 6-foot-4 forward brings crucial size, inside scoring, and rim protection to Penn State.

Bozan has also proven she can produce in an expanded role. Her track record for Croatia is stellar. She averaged 21.4 points and 15.4 rebounds per game at the FIBA U20 European Championship.

Expect Bozan to take a big leap and serve as a centerpiece on the low block this season for the Nittany Lions.

Zacharie Paulhamus: Kamrah Banks & Devyn Quigley

Banks is a freshman and a four-star recruit who averaged 20.4 points as a senior in high school; I’m excited to see how that translates to the college level. With the roster as it is, she can make an early impact.

Quigley brings experience from NC State and is a lethal shooter from behind the arc. I’m interested to see what she can do with a fresh start at Penn State.

I think both can become important pieces for the Lady Lions as Wright figures out her rotation and continues to build chemistry.

Michael Zeno: Enjulina Gonzalez

There’s a lot of unknown on Wright’s roster this year, so there’s going to be players who step up out of nowhere to make an impact and elevate this team to another level.

I’m intrigued by Enjulina Gonzalez, a First-Team All-MAC selection in 2025 who had a down year as a little-used bench player at Georgia last season. When she got playing time at Miami (Ohio), she was a strong shooter (36.8% from three) and averaged two steals a game.

Oscar Orellana: Kamrah Banks

Banks has an insane resume coming out of Crispus Attucks High School in Indiana. She holds the school’s all-time single-game points record with 63, beating out none other than … Oscar Robertson.

She’s a speedy bucket-getter and is shaping up to make an immediate impact as a freshman. I’m excited to watch her ball.